Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army. He was awarded the Medal of Honor as a Sergeant in Company B, 1st West Virginia Infantry for action on May 15, 1864 at New Market, Virginia. His citation reads "Under a heavy fire of musketry, rallied a few men to the support of the colors, in danger of capture, and bore them to a place of safety. One of his comrades having been severely wounded in the effort, Sgt. Burns went back a hundred yards in the face of the enemy's fire and carried the wounded man from the field." (bio by: Don Morfe)